“I've never been an idle person," says Amy Moore. Aside from caring for a family of eight, harvesting and selling homemade honey, and raising chickens and horses on her family’s 8-acre property, she has recently built her own greenhouse using primarily recycled materials. After picking up 26vintage oak casement windows for free from a glass cutter looking to unload them, Moore decided that building a greenhouse would be the perfect way to extend the short Tennessee growing season and to get her children involved in a meaningful home improvement project. Using a circular saw, a jigsaw and a battery-powered drill, she spent about a month and less than $400 to erect an 8-foot by 8-foot greenhouse on her family’s ridge. Now she is just itching to get the first season's crops growing.

Resources abound for salvage projects like this — people throw building materials away all the time, and many stores specialize in vintage and reclaimed materials.

When Moore was a child, she visited her grandfather’s lake house in Texas every summer. When “Granny needed a bigger closet for canning,” she says, they drove around the community hunting for building materials and “trash” that other people had tossed out — and the resourcefulness of her grandfather stuck with Moore.

She involved the three youngest of her six children (Anna, 10; Sarah, 12; and Zach, 15) extensively in this project. Before they move out of the house or get sucked into the busy years of high school and college, she wants to involve them in as many home projects that would allow them to get their hands dirty as possible. They helped cut roof panels, applied the olive green paint and even helped with the framing.

The windows and design of the greenhouse strongly influenced its framing. Moore says she framed the greenhouse rather unconventionally to accommodate the maximum 27- by 42-inch window span. "Solid 2-by-4 horizontal beams between each row of windows give strength and stability to the walls," says Moore. "The weight load is carried by the horizontal beams and vertical 2-by-4 jack studs, while accommodating the existing oak frames of the windows."

Building from the ground up, Moore squared and plumbed the structure as she went. She used decking screws to build it, saying, "They don't back out with the swell and contraction that wood goes through seasonally."

Moore's property is advantageously situated on the southeast side of a tall ridge, which offers shelter from most direct winds. "I do consider the 70-foot-tall trees a potential disaster. God willing, it'll be here for a long time," she says.While Moore has a home renovation and other garden building projects under her belt, she’s the first to admit that this project wasn’t without its challenges. “I’m not a professional builder,” she says, and between maneuvering a 6-foot-tall ladder on an 8-foot-tall wall and cutting rafters to fit flush on the roof, Moore had her share of obstacles. “I would take a glass of wine and walk down to the hill and sit and stare at the greenhouse and ponder,” she says. Taking a step back, she would think, “I can get this. If I can pack six kids in the van for a family trip, find room for luggage and still have access to the cooler, I can make a rafter fit flush on the roof.”

Two weeks after the walls were up, a corrugated polycarbonate panel roof was on. While its longevity is yet to be determined, as of now it keeps the rain out. A pitched roof was originally envisioned, but this shed roof design involved a lot less cutting and less square footage — a plus when the panels cost $30 apiece.

Bringing on the heat. Winter on the ridge drops to temperatures in the teens, and Moore hopes to use passive heating to warm the greenhouse. She’ll observe temperatures in it over the winter to see if supplemental heating is required — solar panels, perhaps. She's looking forward to growing a lot more in the coming seasons, and maintaining a balmy temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit over the winters would make a world of difference.

She caulked the windows and then let her kids have a go with the olive green paint. Moore says she has only a few more trips to the glass with the razor blade left to go.

Considering the plantings. Moore says pomegranates are a must for growing. Her grandfather grew pomegranates and Shasta daisies in Texas, and this homage to his influence really brings the process full cycle. Avocados are on the wish list as well.

She’s considering salvaged stainless steel restaurant shelving for stacking and displaying the plants. For now, two hanging planters and heirloom tomato cuttings are testing out conditions over the winter while temperatures are monitored and sun patterns observed.

Moore is looking forward to the time she'll spend in her new greenhouse. "It's perfect," she says. "It's quiet but not removed. You can just sit down there and watch the trees, the horses and enjoy the house."

Let her process inspire your own project. Here are the materials she used:

Foundation: Salvaged railroad timbers and 4-foot rebar pieces

Framing: Various lengths of 2-by-4s; various-size lumber for trim, door frame and base

That north wall really needs to be a solid wall that is oinsulated, probably a heat sink as well. It would make this house more effecient. you will never get any appreciable heat form the northern exposure, but you will lose a pile of heat from that wall.

This is stunning and inspirational! I do have a question, however. Do you think you will get enough sun for your greenhouse? It looks like there will be a broad canopy over it by summer. I ask because your setting seems similar to mine--on a slope with trees overhead.

Hope we get updates as to how the roof holds up, and if passive solar heating keeps the temperatures where she wants it! I would love to build a greenhouse in my backyard eventually, and love the salvaged style of this greenhouse!

What a great way to repurpose! Ironically last year I put my scrap windows up on Craigslist and someone who was going to make a greenhouse came to get them. I loved the idea then & I love it more now that I have a visual.

Thanks for this inspiration. I have the window sashes and have been trying to figure out an easy, cheap design. This has helped me greatly. I try to reuse/repurpose as many things as possible and this is a great idea. Please update asap.

So cool. Someone in my little town did a similar greenhouse in their tiny backyard and I've always admired it. I saved all my old windows and somehow, some way I will do something similar. It's wonderful you involved your kids in this project. My kid runs away from home as soon as he thinks work is in his future LOL.

Actually, this project is giving me ideas for a back covered patio that I've been itching to remove. This may be the ticket for renovating it instead. It's a huge concrete patio with a brick BBQ grill, but it looks darn shabby and the roof, which is badly deteriorated, interferes with my view of mountains. It is also so windy here that it is rarely used. Enclosing it in glass would allow it to be used at least for greenhouse purposes and allow a better view of the mountains. Thanks for the inspiration!

You are an inspiration to one who always thinks of great projects, but never attempts to do them all by myself. I have always thought it would be great to live in an all glass house in the woods!! Enjoy yourself and congrats!!

Numerous sources advise against using railroad ties or any other creosote-treated wood in gardens or for other landscaping applications. As recently as March 2003, the University of Missouri Extension recommended on its website that gardeners forming raised gardens with railroad ties use heavy plastic sheeting to protect the soil from contact with the ties. In April 2010, the same website advised, "Avoid using treated lumber or railroad ties because their chemical content can be harmful to the plants."

Bravo!! “I can get this. If I can pack six kids in the van for a family trip, find room for luggage and still have access to the cooler, I can make a rafter fit flush on the roof." love the I can do it attitude! never, ever give up. love this.

Thank you for all the kind comments and praise. This was a wonderful project all the way around. Upcycling is very cool! My kiddos and I enjoyed the time spent together creating something beautiful and incredibly useful. I apologize for the delay in addressing any questions. The holiday season is very busy in and of itself. Hope you all had a wonderful season. Now, about those questions...I'll try to answer each and note the one who posed it...

freefreem stated/asked...
"This is stunning and inspirational! I do have a question, however. Do you think you will get enough sun for your greenhouse? It looks like there will be a broad canopy over it by summer. I ask because your setting seems similar to mine--on a slope with trees overhead."

I do. The sun's path in this area allows for good light until mid to late afternoon through out the summer months. This had been an area I had used as a vegetable garden in past years. I actually think this will be best when the late afternoon sun/heat of summer could cook the plants inside. If you have any
other questions please feel free to ask.

"Hope we get updates as to how the roof holds up, and if passive solar heating keeps the temperatures where she wants it! I would love to build a greenhouse in my backyard eventually, and love the salvaged style of this greenhouse!"

Well, the holidays are over and so far so good...We've had some good winds, small hail and a little snow! The roof seems to be as good as new...I am wondering if UV won't be the killer over time...I'll have to wait and see. I was very careful to document and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. The product was pricey and had a decent warranty.

I found a "wireless temperature station" in my office that was a past Christmas gift. I had never even opened it. It may not have quiet a long enough wireless range...But, I'm gonna try it. Wouldn't it be great to be able to stand in the kitchen, hot coffee in hand and compare the outside porch temp with what's happening in my greenhouse. By comparison I hope to determine what would be sufficient to "heat" it. I'll be sure to share my findings.

"This is a great way to repurpose old single glaze windows. One note of caution, though: replace the glass in the lowest windows with tempered glass for safety."

I absolutely agree. I was really pleased to find that these windows all have a bygone era "plate glass" installed in them...Very heavy and could do a lot of damage if someone fell through...Thankfully we live way out and all my kiddos a practically raised...Still definitely a future consideration should one need replacing.

Numerous sources advise against using railroad ties or any other creosote-treated wood in gardens or for other landscaping applications. As recently as March 2003, the University of Missouri Extension recommended on its website that gardeners forming raised gardens with railroad ties use heavy plastic sheeting to protect the soil from contact with the ties. In April 2010, the same website advised, "Avoid using treated lumber or railroad ties because their chemical content can be harmful to the plants."

I didn't have any "studies" to quote but that was my "o'natural/organic" opinion too. I use a very heavy mil. black plastic to line my raised bed. Other things I can't give you data on but I would avoid would be, treated lumber (contains arsenic) and cinder (cement) blocks (contains lime and will effect the ph level of your soil)...Both could be used if the interior was lined with plastic. I won't be growing anything in the "floor" of my greenhouse but I still lined the foundation walls to add to the longevity of the timbers.

I'm not a writer so I tend to feature a lot, a lot of photos...If your looking for more pictures of the building process feel free to visit and comment. I'm usually working on a few "rabbit trails" at a time...

What a sweet little greenhouse and an even sweeter process. It's wonderful that you are giving your kids your time and useful skills that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Not to mention the memories they will carry with them! What a wonderful childhood.

sar2401...I don't know!! It's going to be a learning process...I used natural stone for the flooring and it has a radiant effect...I'll be spending a lot more time out there as spring arrives...I'll definitely update with more info as I learn...

Since you're good at reusing materials, get a couple of 55 gallon drums. Mount the solar panels so you get the best exposure and then pick up a cheap recirculating pump. the pump will circulate the water through a series of black pvc pipes you can also get cheap, maybe from housing tract scraps. Cover the drums with an insulating blanket used for water heaters. Mount a thermostic control on the pump and a diverter valve so the hot water will circulate through small diameter pvc pipes mounted on the ceiling or the floor, whichever works better. That may be all you need to keep the greenhouse above 50 at night....65 is probably optimistic. Check allelectronics.com. They have lots of cheap surplus relays, pumps, and solar components that will fit your budget. Good luck!

You're welcome. Another, and possibly even cheaper option, is a wood stove. If you have enough wood on your property, a cast iron stove, which can be often be purchased used for $100 or less, and you can burn any downed limbs, trimmings, or other wood debris to provide heat on cold nights. A wood pellet stove costs more, but the fuel is relatively cheap, and you can get models that will provide heat for over eight hours with one load, saving you some work in the middle of the nigit keeping a normal wood stove going.

I just loved reading all the comments and looking at all your pictures I think it was a wonderful project and hopefully it'll bring good fruits of your labor for this summer and I will look forward to hearing all the things that you have grown especially your pomegranates

My husband made a rather unsightly greenhouse out of boards covered with plastic. We are renovating our sunroom soon and I'd though about giving my husband a greenhouse kit as part of the reno. We will certainly replace the sunroom windows into something more energy efficient. Now I've got an idea for how to repurpose the old windows.